SGPC to send delegation to Kashmir

JAMMU – The Shiromani Gurudawara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) is to send a delegation to the Kashmir Valley to meet members of the Sikh community following anonymous letters asking them to embrace Islam or face dire consequences, an official said Tuesday.

A delegation of the SGPC, Amritsar, led by its president Avtar Singh Makkar, was scheduled to …. Source article  : SGPC to send delegation to Kashmir.

Amarnath pilgrimage ends in Kashmir

JAMMU – Defying all odds, more than 456,000 pilgrims prayed at the cave shrine of Lord Shiva in southern Kashmir during the Amarnath Yatra that ended Tuesday.

The pilgrimage, which started July 1 amid mobs dominating the streets in the Kashmir Valley, concluded without any major untoward incident although pilgrims’ vehicles were caught in stone-pelting at …. Read the original article  : Amarnath pilgrimage ends in Kashmir.

Supporters say church destroyed on 9/11 is being ignored in furor over mosque near ground zero

Supporters: Church ignored in NYC mosque furor
NEW YORK – Supporters of a Greek Orthodox church destroyed on Sept. 11 say officials willing to speak out about a planned community center and mosque near ground zero have been silent on efforts to get the church rebuilt.
But the World Trade Center site’s owner …. Source  : Supporters say church destroyed on 9/11 is being ignored in furor over mosque near ground zero.

NY gov, archbishop to discuss proposal for alternate site for mosque planned near WTC site

NY gov, archbishop to discuss mosque near WTC site
ALBANY, N.Y. – New York Gov. David Paterson says he’ll meet with Archbishop Timothy Dolan to discuss a mosque and Islamic community center planned two blocks from ground zero.
The private meeting will be Tuesday at the Democratic governor’s Manhattan office.
Opponents and protesters say the mosque … Read more : NY gov, archbishop to discuss proposal for alternate site for mosque planned near WTC site.

Church trial set for Presbyterian minister who performed gay weddings when legal in Calif

Trial set for minister who performed gay weddings

SAN FRANCISCO – A retired Presbyterian minister is facing a church trial for performing weddings of gay couples during the brief period when same-sex marriage was legal in California.
The Rev. Jane Spahr has been accused of publicly, intentionally and repeatedly violating church doctrine when she presided at the … Original source on Gaea Times at : Church trial set for Presbyterian minister who performed gay weddings when legal in Calif.

Mideast watches NY mosque furor and asks: Is it worth the fight?

Mideast passions quiet over NY mosque showdown
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – On the streets of lower Manhattan, there’s no mistaking how the passions flow: One side saying its their patriotic duty to block a planned Islamic center and the other insisting America cannot curtail freedoms as revenge for the Sept. 11 [..] Read the original article: here.

Mother Teresa’s birth centenary celebrations begin

KOLKATA – The official birth centenary celebrations of Mother Teresa began here Monday even as a clergyman said the Nobel Peace Prize winner’s elevation to sainthood may take some more time.

The Mother, an Albanian nun, founded a Catholic congregation Missionaries of Charity and devoted herself to the cause of the poor, infirm and the … Original source on Gaea Times at : Mother Teresa’s birth centenary celebrations begin.

Sikhs in Kashmir Valley feel unsafe: Community leaders

JAMMU – Rubbishing claims of the Jammu and Kashmir government that Sikhs in the valley had nothing to fear, several leaders of the community Monday said that they were facing “acute harassment at the hands of miscreants” in the valley.

The community leaders, who had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi last week and … Read more : Sikhs in Kashmir Valley feel unsafe: Community leaders.

Saibaba’s sandals will not be taken to Britain

SHIRDI – Following strong criticism by locals, the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust (SSST) of Shirdi Monday cancelled plans to take Saibaba’s sandals to Britain next month, an official said here Monday.

“People from various quarters, including the villagers from Shirdi, have expressed their disapproval to take Saibaba’s holy sandals to London. So, respecting their sentiments, we … Original article on : Saibaba’s sandals will not be taken to Britain.

Stray cats strut Istanbul’s streets, a symbol of tradition in a churning metropolis

Cat culture thrives in Istanbul
ISTANBUL – When President Obama visited Turkey last year, he paused to stroke a tabby cat at the former Byzantine church of Haghia Sophia while Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan looked on with a smile. The cat, one of half a dozen living at the ancient site, seemed unfazed by … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Stray cats strut Istanbul’s streets, a symbol of tradition in a churning metropolis.